www.newcontinental.org.uk

This year’s Preston Tringe sees a very special edition of Lancashire Writing Hub’s Live Literature night, Word Soup, on Tuesday 27th July. To tie in with the Preston-wide celebration of theatre and performance, the focus of this edition of the popular night will be squarely on drama, with some of the region’s top playwrights delivering previews of their work. The audience will also be treated to an exclusive solo live music set from a member of popular local indie folk act Ivan Campo.

Two big guns on the North West’s theatre scene are heading up the evening’s bill. Rob Johnston is the award-winning writer of Fencing for Losers, performed at The Lowry, Under my Skin, performed at The Continental and at the Write Now Festival in Liverpool and The Opposite of Claustrophobic, a hit at last year’s Tringe. Rob will be presenting extracts from his latest work, The Myth of Escape.

Grace O’Leary is the writer and actress behind What Colour Was Her Blood? which debuted at the Not Part Of festival in Manchester last July. The piece was very successful, winning a Forever Manchester Award and was also shortlisted by North West Playwrights for Best Original New Play.

Other playwrights performing at Word Soup will be Preston’s Lee Johnson, whose work The Gentle Plagued receives its Tringe debut at The Continental on July 31st, and Blackpool scribe David Riley, whose The Great Escape graces The Adelphi on Wednesday 28th.

Poetry is represented on the night by Manchester poet, blogger and music journo Max Wallis and Ron Scowcroft, who has been listed for The Bridport prize, commended in the City of Derby competition and published in national poetry magazines. The Guardian Books website selected two of Ron’s poems for critical reviews in 2008.

Word Soup has seen some quality music acts providing its traditional musical interludes and this edition is no exception. This month sees an exclusive solo set from Adam Shaw, guitarist with popular local lads Ivan Campo, whose song The Great Procrastinator was featured on the cult TV show Skins last year.

Another Word Soup tradition present and correct for this edition is the highly popular Open Mic slot, where experienced writers and newbies alike get to share their work with a supportive and appreciative audience.  It all adds up to an enjoyable and varied literary which will help to make this year’s Tringe one to remember.

Word Soup: Tringe Special takes place in The Continental’s Art Space on Tuesday 27th July from 8pm. Entry is £3.